Cost of living

[GB0610]

To Everybody in the bay area-

What are the cheaper areas to live in the San Jose/Los Gatos area?

OR

What are the cheaper areas to live in the Hollister/Salinas/Monterey/Watsonville areas?

I'm looking for both small apartment purchases, but more along the lines of rentals.

Thanks!

[sgttom]

First off, how far you willing to travel from residence to work?

Los Gatos and San Jose areas (Los Altos, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, etc.) are expensive... homes or apartments. At least towards Los Gatos, Los Altos area.. May want to check into Cupertino area down Hwy 17 (toward Santa Cruz - Watsonville)... Bolinas down the 17....

Hollister is ok but out of the way off 101 and out into left field... AND once every year, all them Harley's down there and the associated activities....

Watsonville is probably the way to go out of your choices listed. Check into the little city of Socal, just between Gilroy / Salinas. Monterery = expensive.

If looking for closer areas, check into Milpitas (between Fremont / San Jose), could probably find good apt deals there)... Check into Fremont too....


To Everybody in the bay area-

What are the cheaper areas to live in the San Jose/Los Gatos area?

OR

What are the cheaper areas to live in the Hollister/Salinas/Monterey/Watsonville areas?

I'm looking for both small apartment purchases, but more along the lines of rentals.

Thanks!

[GB0610]

First off, how far you willing to travel from residence to work?

Los Gatos and San Jose areas (Los Altos, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, etc.) are expensive... homes or apartments. At least towards Los Gatos, Los Altos area.. May want to check into Cupertino area down Hwy 17 (toward Santa Cruz - Watsonville)... Bolinas down the 17....

Hollister is ok but out of the way off 101 and out into left field... AND once every year, all them Harley's down there and the associated activities....

Watsonville is probably the way to go out of your choices listed. Check into the little city of Socal, just between Gilroy / Salinas. Monterery = expensive.

If looking for closer areas, check into Milpitas (between Fremont / San Jose), could probably find good apt deals there)... Check into Fremont too....

Thank you!

I'll give you a little more specifics.

As of now, I have taken a FED LE job in San Jose, pretty much in the center of the city. So if I am to stay there, i'm wondering where is best to rent a town home or small granny flat (no apt. complxes!) in the area is. My wife an I are pretty open to all of the sourrounding areas, but would like to be closer to the beach (i.e. Santa Cruz. At least on that side of the city of San Jose). But I am not willing to have to drive more than 20-25 miles to work in downtown SJ.

I will likely be getting offerred another job here in a few months in either Hollister or Monterey areas (spliting my time in between the two offices in the district). If/when I take that, THEN i'll be looking to move down there. That's where Watsonville/Salinas/Monterey come in to play. So i'm asking about those areas as it looks like I will be moving down there eventually.

So with that clarrification, any more advice.

PS - I looked up Bolinas. I found it to be way up there. Above SF. Right? That's way to far. I can't find the city of Socal either. Did you mean, Soquel? But that is a lot closer to Santa Cruz on the map. Its not between Gilroy and Salinas.

Thanks a ton so far...

[leif]

from north to south it goes: santa cruz, soquel, capitola, aptos, watsonville, then nothing as far as i know, then salinas then monterey. santa cruz and watsonville are about 20minutes apart, and santa cruz and monterey are about an hour apart. hollister is inland somewhere down there.

santa cruz to downtown san jose will take you 35-45minutes depending on traffic (you can calculate everything else based on those numbers). the dividing line between the santa cruz area and the south bay are the mountains hwy 17 goes thru.

also cupertino isnt on 17 at all its near 280/85. that area (cupterino, sunnyvale, los altos, santa clara, etc) are all a stones throw away from each other depending on which direction you go.

[GB0610]

Thanks Leif-

Any thoughts from you on some easy going areas (not ghetto) that my wife and I will be able to find some semi (it is the bay area afterall) affordable housing in, particularly between San Jose and Santa Cruz? I mean out of Saratoga, monte sareno, campbell, cupterino, santa clara.

Thanks

[lsmalibu]

Thanks Leif-

Any thoughts from you on some easy going areas (not ghetto) that my wife and I will be able to find some semi (it is the bay area afterall) affordable housing in, particularly between San Jose and Santa Cruz? I mean out of Saratoga, monte sareno, campbell, cupterino, santa clara.

Thanks

Out of those 5, Campbell is probably going to have the cheapest rent.

[sgttom]

Ok..

Soquel was what I was referring to..(not Socal). I'm not much of a South Bayer.... Bolinas, I meant Boulder Creek...

Campbell.. good place..

There's new apt's in south san jose off Hwy 101 and across from Coyote Creek Golf Course. That area is being developed big time with homes, condos and apt's...

If you're going to be working between Monterey and SJ..

Campbell, Aptos, Cupertino, Saratoga, look in Morgan Hill, San Juan Bautista, Moss Landing, Prunedale, Gonzales...

[Jedburgh]

Ok..

Soquel was what I was referring to..(not Socal). I'm not much of a South Bayer.... Bolinas, I meant Boulder Creek...

Campbell.. good place..

There's new apt's in south san jose off Hwy 101 and across from Coyote Creek Golf Course. That area is being developed big time with homes, condos and apt's...

If you're going to be working between Monterey and SJ..

Campbell, Aptos, Cupertino, Saratoga, look in Morgan Hill, San Juan Bautista, Moss Landing, Prunedale, Gonzales...
Regarding working between Monterey and San Jose...

Morgan Hill can still be pricey, but Gilroy is worth considering - its also off the 101.

There just isn't that much available in Moss Landing.

San Juan Batista and Prunedale are reasonable (relatively speaking) and popular with people who work in the Monterey area.

Marina and Seaside are okay - they're both close to the ocean, and immediate access to Hwy 1 for the commute.

Salinas is okay - but you'd want to stay in North Salinas. East Salinas is gang territory, and South Salinas is getting there.

Gonzales is also reasonable, but its south of Monterey - so if you think you'll be shifting between Monterey-San Jose areas for work, the added distance will get to you.

[Graydog]

Here's a thought. Go out on your days off and check out those above mentioned ares and see for yourself what it's like. I know for a fact that anything close to Santa Cruz will be expensive. That encludes the Scotts Valley area, big big $$$$ there. Soquel is up there, as is Capitola. These are in an area near the beach, and, don't forget the University of Santa Cruz.
Any flat or apt. near the beach the landlords literally scalp the kids for the rent they get. If you evenually get to Salinas to work, there are some newer areas there that aren't to bad. But I think if it were me, I may consider something in Gilroy too.

Good Luck.

Graydog,
Retired LE

[GB0610]

Thanks gents-

It looks like, at least at this point, that I will be taking a job where my main patrol area will be around CAL STATE Monterey Bay. So we will be looking in Seaside and Marina, which I have seen and like, or possibly Prunedale, which I still need to see. My wife will be going back to school at CSUMB. So living near-by would cut down on her commute, which is what she wants.

As of today, I have started employment in San Jose. WE are looking at possibly driving around Morgan Hill and Gilroy to check out those areas. Alamitos, Evergreen or Campbell may be good choices too if we stay in this neck of the woods.

Thanks again for the persepective. It truly has helped. Any more infor on the locations I have narrowed it down to, as far as buying a LESS expensive townhome in would be great.

Thanks